Reinforced hygienic medium applicator tubes

ABSTRACT

A TUBULAR, HYGIENIC MEDIUM APPLICATOR DEVICE INCLUDING A THIN-WALLED, RING-REINFORCED EXTERNAL TUBE. THE REINFORCING RING IS A LAMINATED STRUCTURE COMPOSED OF FIVE CONCENTRIC PLIES INCLUDING THREE PLIES OF PAPER SURROUNDING A PLY OF ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE FOIL COATED ON ITS INNER SURFACE WITH A PLY OF THERMOPLASTIC RESIN MATERIAL. IN THE FABRICATION OF THE REINFORCED TUBE, THE RING IS TELESCOPED   OVER THE EXTERIOR SURFACE OF THE EXTERNAL TUBE FLUSH WITH THE REAR EDGE THEREOF. THE RING IS THEN BONDED IN PLACE BY INDUCTIVELY HEATING THE FOIL TO HEAT THE THERMOPLASTIC RESIN AND FUSE THE RESIN TO THE TUBE SURFACE.

J. A. voss ET AL March 2 1971 REINFORCED HYGIENIC MEDIUM APPLICATORTUBES Filed MaylO, 1968 3 Sneets-Sheet l Hal.

INVENTOR5. J056PH/4. V055. CAEA W JOHNflO/V F'QAsEB Beam/ 1 A Nam/6wMax-ch23, 1971 J 055 ETAL REINFORCED HYGIENIC MEDIUM APPLICATOR TUBESFiled May 10, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 NV NT R5. J ag azkm FPASGIZ 306000March 23, 1971 A, 055 ETAL Q 3,572,33Q

REINFORCED HYGIENIC MEDIUM APPLICA'IOR TUBES Filed May 10, 1968SSheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR5. JOfi EPH A. vass (A24 1 JOH/1/50/l/ FQASEQ #5306mm A T70EA/6V5 United States Patent Ofice 3,572,339 Patented Mar. 23,1971 3,572,339 REINFORCED HYGIENIC MEDIUM APPLICATOR TUBES Joseph A.Voss, 1223 Race St., Apt. 902, Denver, Colo.

80206, and Carl W. Johnson, Neenah, Wis.; said Johnson assignor to saidVoss Filed May 10, 1968, Ser. No. 728,290 Int. Cl. A61m 7/00 U.S. Cl.128-260 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A tubular, hygienic mediumapplicator device including a thin-walled, ring-reinforced externaltube. The reinforcing ring is a laminated structure composed of fiveconcentric plies including three plies of paper surrounding a ply ofelectrically conductive foil coated on its inner surface with a ply ofthermoplastic resin material. In the fabrication of the reinforced tube,the ring is telescoped over the exterior surface of the external tubeflush with the rear edge thereof. The ring is then bonded in place byinductively heating the foil to heat the thermoplastic resin and fusethe resin to the tube surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to hygienicapplicator devices and particularly to reinforced tubular structures foruse in such devices.

US. Pat. Nos. 3,204,635 and 3,358,354, issued to the present inventorson Sept. 7, 1965 and Dec. 19, 1967, respectively, disclose an improvedhygienic medium applicator utilizing an external tube having a taperedfor ward tip, and a method for forming the tapered configuration. Thetapered tip of the tube facilitates insertion of the applicator andcomprises a plurality of dovetailed folds or pleats providing astructure easily opened from the inside, thereby permitting the user toeject the hygienic medium without having to exert undue force.

Copending application Ser. No. 690,001, filed by the present inventorson Dec. 12, 1967 and entitled Applicators for Catamenial Devices,discloses apparatus for forming the forward end of the external tubeinto the final tapered shape. The process used to form the taper, incombination with the proper tube material, as disclosed in the copendingapplication Ser. No. 726,522 of the present inventors, filed May 3, 1968and entitled Laminated Tube Structure and Method and Apparatus forManufacturing Same, provides a tapered structure having substantially notendency to reopen once formed, yet providing little resistance when thehygienic medium is moved through during ejection.

It is most desirable from the standpoint of consumer acceptance that theforce necessary to spread open the forward end of the external tubeduring ejection of the hygienic medium be minimized. By way of specificexample, when the hygienic medium comprises a tampon, the required forceshould be one pound or less.

It will be appreciated that the use of a thin-walled external tube isdesirable because it is more apt to provide the required yieldability ofthe pleated, tapered tip and is also desirable because the overalldiameter of the applicator is minimized while the size of the hygienicmedium accommodated therein can be maximized. The net result is aproduct which not only inserts easily but simultaneously is adapted tocarry a hygienic medium having the greatest fluid absorbing ormedicating capabilities and has structural characteristics whichfacilitate the formation of the pleated forward end and opening thereofwhen the hygienic medium is expelled.

The thin-walled construction of the external applicator tube, however,makes it susceptible to deformation under the gripping force normallyapplied during use of the applicator. Tube wall deformation tends toincrease the force required to eject the hygienic medium because ofincreased frictional resistance between the sliding and stationarycomponents of the applicator, especially in those applicators employinga hygienic medium ejecting tube telescoped within the external tube inclose fitting relation.

By fastening a ring about the external tube adjacent the rear extremitythereof, as disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,347,234 issued on Oct. 17, 1967to J. A. Voss, one of the inventors herein, the external tube may bereinforced to minimize deformation resulting from gripping pressureapplied to the external tube during use of the applicator. The ring alsoprovides a means for securely gripping the applicator to assure properorientation dur ing insertion.

Application Ser. No. 690,001, referenced earlier, discloses apparatusfor automatically applying the rings to the external tubes by using aliquid adhesive. Although the use of liquid adhesive is generallysatisfactory for joining the tubes and rings on a low production basis,this approach is decidedly less suitable for high production. Themaintenance of proper adhesive viscosity and other parameters to assureuniformity of the final product, the necessity of periodicallyreplenishing the adhesive supply and the time which must be allotted foradhesive drying, all contribute to increased production time andmanufacturing costs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One aspect of the present invention relates toa novel method for attaching a reinforcing ring to a thin-walledhygienic medium applicator tube. The method provides a production rateof tube/ring assemblies considerably higher than heretofore possible andsubstantially reduces manufacturing costs while assuring uniformity ofthe final products.

According to one specific example of the method, a

vertical tube support in the form of a cylindrical shaft is provided forslidably receiving external applicator tubes, in succession, and holdingeach tube while a reinforcing ring is bonded in place. The ring, havingan inside diameter dimensioned to provide a snug, frictional fit withthe external tube, is first dropped onto a circumferential shoulderprojecting from the shaft. The applicator tube is then slipped over theshaft and pushed downwardly until the rear edge of the tube comes torest against the shoulder, the ring having telescoped over the rearportion of the tube.

The ring, which forms another aspect of the present invention, is alaminated structure which, according to one specific embodiment,comprises two major composite layers, a two-ply outer layer and athree-ply inner layer. The outer layer is composed of two adhesivelybonded paper plies. The inner layer is composed of a ply of electrically conductive foil having a paper ply bonded to its exteriorsurface and on its interior surface having a thin 3 ply in the form of athermoplastic resin coating for effecting the bond between the ring andthe tube.

As a last step in the manufacture of the tube and ring assembly, thering and the tube are joined by inductively heating the conductive foilto a temperature at which the thermoplastic coating melts and fuses withthe exterior surface of the applicator tube. Bonding may be accomplishedby simultaneously heating several points about the ring or byintermittently rotating the tube support shaft relative to a singleinduction coil, energized in timed relation with the intermittentrotation of the shaft, to inductively heat localized areas of the foil,thereby providing bonding in a plurality of spots about the ring.Alternatively, the support shaft may be continuously rotated and thefoil continuously heated by induction to provide a substantiallyunbroken bond between the ring and the tube.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A better understanding of theinvention may be had by reference to the detailed description whichfollows, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-section view of a tampon applicatordevice having a reinforcing ring about the rear portion of the externaltube;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, partially cut-away, perspective view of anexample of a reinforcing ring in accordance with one aspect of thepresent invention;

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are elevation views, in cross section, of an applicatortube support device used in the assembly of the tube and ring, eachfigure depicting a stage in the assembly process;

FIG. 6 is a transverse cross-section view of the applicator tube supportdevice, as depicted in FIG. 5, taken along the plane 66;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a portion of a tube winding apparatus forforming tube stock from which the reinforcing rings are cut; and,

FIG. 8 is a front elevation view, in section, of a portion of a tubecutting apparatus for severing rings from tube stock.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION By way of example, thisdescription will be limited to catamenial applicator devices for theinsertion of tampons. It will be understood, however, that the inventionis equally applicable to other hygienic medium devices such assuppository applicators and the appended claims are intended toencompass all such equivalent devices.

Referring to FIG. 1, a catamenial tampon applicator device 10,incorporating features of the present invention, is shown. The device 10includes an elongated, external tube 12 which has a relatively thin walland may be in the form of a laminated tubular structure of the kinddisclosed in detail in copending application Ser. No. 726,522 filed bythe present inventors on May 3, 1968 and entitled Laminated TubeStructure and Method and Apparatus for Manufacturing Same. Because ofits thin wall, the tube 12 may be subject to deformation when grasped bythe fingers during use of the device. The tube is therefore providedwith a reinforcing ring, designated generally by the reference number'14, mounted about the exterior surface of the tube 12, flush with therear extremity thereof. The ring 14 serves not only to reinforce theexternal tube 12, but provides a secure, nonslip gripping means and alsofacilitates orientation of the applicator to properly direct theinjection of the tampon into the vagina. The tube 12 further includes atapered forward tip 16 which permits easy and rapid insertion withoutdiscomfort or irritation to the user. The tapered tip may be formed, forexample, by folding the forward end into a plurality of pleats in themanner disclosed in the aforementioned US. Pat. 3,204,635 and copendingapplication Ser. No. 690,001.

4 The device 10 also includes a tampon 1-8 housed in the forward portionof the external tube 12. The forward end 20 of the tampon 18 is taperedto substantially conform to the configuration of the interior of thetapered tip. 16. A draw string 22 is connected to the rear extremity ofthe tampon 18 and extends rearwardly therefrom.

The applicator 10 further includes tampon-ejecting means disposed withinthe rear portion of the external tube 12. The tampon-ejecting means maytake the form of an internal tube 24 slidably received, in telescopingrelation, within the tube 12. The internal tube 24 is provided with areduced diameter forward section 26 which may be formed in a mannersimilar to that mentioned in connection with the tapered tip 16 of theexternal tube 12. The reduced diameter forward section 26 eliminates anyfrictional interference which might otherwise result from burrs or otherprojections riding in contact with the interior surface of the tube 12.It also precludes any tendency on the part of the tampon material tocatch or bind between the adjacent surfaces of the internal and externaltubes.

The tube 24 may be constructed from any suitable material; as explainedin greater detail in the aformentioned copending application Ser. No.726,522 entitled Laminated Tube Structure and Method and Apparatus forManufacturing Same, it may comprise a laminated structure similar tothat of the external tube 12.

FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view of an example of a reinforcing andgripping ring 14 forming one aspect of the present invention. Accordingto one specific example, the overall dimensions of the ring include aninside diameter of about .605 inch and a length of about .188 inch, orabout inch. The inside diameter of the ring 14 and the outside diameterof the external tube 12 are such that a snug, frictional fit between thering and tube is obtained when the ring is telescoped over the tube.

The ring 14 depicted in FIG. 2 is a laminated structure consisting of atotal of five plies which may be broken down into two major compositelayers, an outer layer 28 and an inner layer 30. The outer layer 28 canbe a single paper ply, but preferably is composed of two plies 32 and34- each having a thickness of about .006 inch and constituting arelatively hard, uncoated, unfinished paper, such as 25 lb. white kraft.The dual ply construction contributes substantially to the strength ofthe ring 14.

The plies 32 and 34 are bonded together with a watersoluble glue, as arethe plies forming the external and internal tubes 12 and 24, to insurerapid separation of the plies in water. This facilitates the subsequentdisintegration of the plies and enhances the disposability of theoverall applicator assembly 10 in a completely sanitary manner.

The inner layer 30 includes an outermost ply 36 of .006 inch thick paperof the same weight and quality as that used for the plies 32 and 34, andbonded to the ply 34 with a water soluble adhesive. The layer 30 furtherincludes an intermediate ply 38, made of an electrically conductivematerial and an innermost ply 40 which is an extruded coating ofthermoplastic resin material on the interior surface of the electricallyconductive ply 38. The intermediate ply 38, according to one specificexample, is made of aluminum foil, about .00035 inch thick, having itsexterior surface suitably bonded to the outermost ply 36 and providedwith a polyethylene film on its interior surface which engages theexterior surface of the tube 12. The inner layer 30 may be obtainedcommercially as a composite sheet'from Thilmany Paper Company ofKaukauna, Wis., U.S.A.

It will be seen that the overall thickness of the ring 14 is slightlymore than .018 inch and the laminated structure considerably strengthensthe external tube and provides substantial resistance to deformation.The ring is thick enough to form a projecting structure of sufiicientsize so as to aiford a good gripping surface and is readily detected bytouch, this being particularly advantageous in terms of the properorientation of the applicator during ejection of the tampon when, as isusually the case, the applicator is out of the direct line of vision ofthe user. Because the ring 14 also marks the rear extremity of theexternal tube 12, it tells the user at all times the relative positionbetween the external and internal tubes 12 and 24. It will further benoted that the rear extremities of the tube 12 and the ring 14 areflush, thereby furnishing a relatively large surface area against whichthe finger, used to push the internal tube 24 forward, comes in contactwhen the tube 24 is fully advanced. Turning briefly to FIGS. 7 and 8,there are illustrated examples of apparatus which may be used in thefabrication of the rings 14. The rings are most conveniently cut fromtube stock produced by the well known method of winding individualstrips, forming the various plies of the final product, about a fixedmandrel in helical fashion. Apparatus of this type, used in connectionwith the fabrication of tube stock for external and internal applicatortubes, is described in detail in the aforementioned copendingapplication Ser. No. 726,522 entitled Laminated Tube Structure andMethod and Apparatus for Manufacturing Same. A portion of such apparatusis depicted in FIG. 7. A composite strip 30a, from which theaforedescribed inner layer 30 is formed, a paper strip 32a for formingthe outermost ply 32 of the outer layer 28 and a paper strip 34a forforming the innermost ply 34 of the outer layer 28, are drawn fromsuitable supply reels (not shown) under appropriate tensions and woundabout a fixed, horizontal mandrel 50 by means of an endless belt 52wrapped about the mandrel in helical fashion. The belt 52 iscontinuously moved at a suitable winding speed by a motordriven pulleymeans (not shown). The upper and lower faces of the strip 34a, to whichthe strip 32a and layer 30a, respectively, are bonded, are impregnatedwith an adhesive prior to the arrival of the strip 34a at the mandrel50. The upper face of the layer 30a which rides in contact with thesurface of the mandrel 50, is suitably lubricated to reduce drag forcesbetween these surfaces.

The formed tube stock 54 is advanced along the mandrel 50 toward theright as indicated by the arrow 56 and off the end of the mandrel whereit is cut into convenient lengths of two feet, for example.

Individual rings may be cut from the tube stock 54 by any suitablemachine. An example of an apparatus, by which the rings are severed byscore cutting, is shown in FIG. 8. A length of tube stock 54 is slippedonto a rotatably mounted arbor 60 until the end of the tube stockcontacts a shoulder 62 that projects from the arbor 60 and serves as alongitudinal locating surface for the tube stock. The tube stock is heldagainst rotation relative to the arbor by friction alone. Mountedadjacent the arbor 60, for rotation about an axis parallel with that ofthe arbor, is a cutter wheel 64 having a sharp peripheral edge 66. Thewheel 64 is carried by ball bearings 68 and 70 supported by a shaft 72mounted for reciprocation toward and away from the arbor 60. The planeof the cutting edge 66 is spaced from the shoulder 62 a distance equalto the desired length of the ring.

In operation, the cutter wheel 64 is moved toward the arbor 60 until theperipheral edge 66 comes into contact with the exterior surface of thetube 54. When the cutting wheel 64 makes contact with the outer surfaceof the tube stock 54, the wheel begins to rotate; under additionalpressure the cutting wheel edge 66 scores the tube stock wall andpenetrates until the tube wall is completely cut through. The cuttingoperation produces a somewhat rounded corner 74 on the final ring asshown in FIG. 2.

After the out has been made and the cutting wheel 64 retracted, theremaining tube stock is then removed from the arbor leaving the severedring, which is then removed. The length of the tube stock which is leftis then once again slipped over the arbor against the shoulder and thenext ring is cut, and so on.

An an alternative, the cutting wheel 64 can be indexed along the arbor60 between cuts to separate the tube stock 54 into a series of ringswithout removal of the stock from the arbor. In accordance with anotheralternative, a number of cutting wheels, spaced along the length of anelongated shaft may be utilized to cut a plurality of ringssimultaneously.

Turning now to FIGS. 36, there is illustrated an apparatus for joiningthe ring 14 and the external tube 12. The apparatus 80 includes avertical support shaft 82 for receiving the ring and tube and holdingthese elements during the bonding operation. The outside diameter of theshaft 82 is such that a sliding, frictional fit is obtained with theinterior surface of the tube 12. The shaft 82 has a blunt tip 84 and isrotatably mounted, by means of a double roller bearing 86, in a suitablesupport means 88. A sleeve 90, made of a high friction material such asrubber or the like, is fastened about the lower, depending portion ofthe shaft 82.

On its intermediate portion, the shaft 82 is provided with an outwardlyprojecting shoulder 94 which, in the typical case wherein the shaft 82is constructed of a conductive material such as steel, comprises theupper planar edge of an insulating sleeve 96 secured about the shaft 82.A recess 98, extending longitudinally for a distance along the length ofthe shaft 82 and overlapping with the sleeve 96, is provided forreceiving an insulating sleeve 100' whose outer surface is flush withthe outer surface of the shaft 82.

In utilizing the apparatus 80 for the assembly of a given tube 12 andring 14, the ring 14 is first dropped onto the shoulder 94 as shown inFIG. 3. It is not necessary that the ring be positioned on the shoulder94 concentrically with the shaft 82; in the typical case, the ring 14will end up somewhat off-center.

As shown in FIG. 4, the next step involves sliding the external tube 12down over the shaft 82 until its rear extremity comes into contact withthe shoulder 94. A tube holding element 102, shown in phantom, engagingthe exterior surface of the tube 12 and appropriately actuated, may beused for this operation. At that point, the ring 14 will haveautomatically centered and telescoped over the rear portion of the tube12 with its rear extremity flush with the rear edge of the tube 12 asdepicted by the solid lines in FIG. 4.

The external tube 12 is shown in FIGS. 3-5 as having already beenprovided with the tapered tip 16. It will be appreciated however, thatthe formation of the tip 16 may take place after the ring has beenbonded in place on a plain, cylindrical tube.

In the bonding operation, shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a primary coil of aninduction heating unit 112 is brought into position adjacent the outersurface of the ring 14 for heating the foil. A number of differentprimary coil configurations will suggest themselves to those skilled inthe art; the coil 1-10 depicted in the drawings is generally L-shapedwith the outer, bent segment positioned about inch from the outsidesurface of the ring 14 so that a concentrated or localized portion ofthe foil 38 will be heated. As is well known, in induction heating, eddycurrents are induced in a secondary conductor by a primary coil. In thepresent case, the secondary conductor comprises the foil 38. The heatproduced by the eddy currents, as a result of the alternating magneticflux, raises the temperature of the foil s'ufiiciently to melt'thethermoplastic resin coating 40 in contact with the exterior surface ofthe tube 12. thereby fusing the coating and hence, bonding the ring tothe tube. The induction heating unit 112 may be of a type commerciallyavailable such as that manufactured and sold, for example, by ReeveElectronics, Inc., Chicago, 111., USA. An induction heating unit havinga power output of about one kilowatt at a frequency of 2.5 mHz. has beenused with satisfactory results in one practical example. 1

The ring and the tube may be bonded by fusing the thermoplastic resin ina number of places spaced about the tube 12. This may be accomplished byintermittently rotating the shaft 82 by means of a suitably driven,friction drive wheel 92, brought into engagement with the sleeve 90, andenergizing the induction heating unit 112 during dwell periods.Alternatively, the unit 112 may be kept in constant operation and withthe shaft 82 in continuous rotation, an unbroken bond bet-ween the ringand tube is formed all the way around. Another alternative, in which theshaft 82 is held stationary, is to provide a plurality of inductionheating coils 110, 110a, 110b, and so forth, spaced at angular intervalsabout the shaft 82, as shown in FIG. 6, to thermally join the ring andthe tube simultaneously at a plurality of spaced locations.

The support means 88, in a practical production machine, can take theform of an intermittently rotatable turret which is moved through aseries of dwell stations at which the various operations which have beendescribed take place. Apparatus of this general nature has beendescribed in detail in the copending application Ser. No. 690,001,referenced earlier.

While there have been described above and illustrated in the drawingsvarious forms of reinforcing rings for tampon applicator tubes andapparatus and methods for bonding the tube and ring, it will beappreciated that a number of other modifications and alternativearrangements are possible. Accordingly, the invention should beconsidered to include all modifications, variations and alternativeforms falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An improved hygienic medium applicator tube structure comprising:

a hygienic applicator tube having a rear portion; and

a laminated ring structure secured about the exterior surface of saidrear portion, said ring structure comprising:

an internal layer including an electrically conductive foil having aninterior surface coated with a thermal bonding agent effecting the bondbetween the ring and tube, and an outer paper ply bonded to said foil;and an external layer including inner and outer paper plies bondedtogether, said inner ply of said external layer being bonded to saidouter paper ply of said internal layer.

2. An improved hygienic medium applicator tube, as defined in claim 1,wherein:

the bonding between the paper plies and between the foil and the outerpaper ply of the internal layer comprises a water-soluble adhesive.

3. A reinforced hygienic medium applicator tube structure comprising:

a thin-walled tube having a rear extremity; and

a strengthening ring fastened about the exterior surface of the tubeadjacent the rear extremity, the ring comprising a laminated structureincluding:

an external layer comprising at least one paper ply; and an internallayer, interposed between the external layer and the exterior surface ofthe tube and comprising an outer paper ply bonded to said externallayer, an inner thermoplastic ply bonded to the exterior surface of thetube and serving to secure the ring to the tube, and an intermediate,electrically conductive ply disposed between and bonded to the innerthermoplastic ply and outer paper ply, said reinforced tube beingsusceptible to a substantially lesser degree to inward deformation underfinger pressure during use of the applicator.

4. A hygienic medium applicator tube structure comprising:

a tubular member having a forward portion and a rear extremity andadapted to contain within the forward portion a hygienic medium, theforward portion of the tubular member being folded to define a taperedconfiguration, the tubular member being made of thin materialfacilitating both formation of the tapered forward portion and unfoldingthereof during ejection of the hygienic medium, the wall of the tubularmember normally being deformable under finger pressure during ejectionof the hygienic medium; and

a ring, secured about the exterior surface of the tubular memberadjacent the rear extremity of, for strengthing the tubular member andincreasing its resistance to said deformation, said ring including:

an external layer comprising at least one paper ply; and

an internal layer disposed between the external layer and the exteriorsurface of the tubular member and comprising an outer paper ply bondedto said external layer, an inner thermoplastic ply bonded to theexterior surface of the tubular member and serving to secure the ring tothe tube, and an intermediate, electrically conductive ply disposedbetween and bonded to the inner thermoplastic ply and the outer paperply of the internal layer.

5. An applicator tube structure, as defined in claim 4,

in which:

said external layer comprises two paper plies, helically wound with theinternal layer in staggered, overlapping relation.

6. An improved catamenial applicator comprising:

a first tubular member having a forward portion and a rear portion, saidforward portion being adapted to receive a tampon and having a taperedconfiguration defined by a plurality of longitudinal pleats, the tubularmember comprising a laminated structure of thin sheet materialfacilitating both formation of the tapered forward portion and openingthereof during ejection of the tampon, the wall of the tubular membernormally being deformable under finger pressure during ejection of thetampon;

a second tubular member slidably received within the rear portion ofsaid first tubular member and adapted to eject the tampon from theforward portion thereof; and

a ring secured about the exterior surface of the rear portion of thefirst tubular member for strengthening said first tubular member, thering comprising:

an internal layer including an electrically conductive foil having aninterior surface coated with a thermoplastic resin material bonding thering to the tube and an outer paper ply bonded to said foil; and

an external layer including inner and outer paper plies bonded together,said inner ply being bonded to said outer paper ply of the internallayer.

7. An improved catamenial applicator, as defined in claim 6, in which:

the rear extremity of said ring is flush with the rear extremity of saidfirst tubular member.

8. An improved hygienic medium applicator tube structure comprising:

a hygienic medium applicator tube having a rear portion; and

a laminated ring structure secured about said rear portion of said tubeand comprising:

an inner layer comprising at least a ply of electrically conductivematerial; and

an outer layer surrounding said inner layer and bonded thereto; and

a thermal bonding agent securing said ring to said tube.

9. An improved hygienic medium applicator tube structure comprising:

a hygienic medium applicator tube; and a laminated ring secured aboutthe exterior surface of said tube, said ring comprising:

an inner layer comprising an electrically conductive material; and anouter layer surrounding and secured to said inner layer.

10 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,347,234 10/1967 Voss 1282633,390,671 7/1968 Hildebrand 128-263 ADELE M. EAGER, Primary Examiner US.Cl. X.R.

